Despite taking the lead through Jayden Clarke, Gillingham slipped to their fourth defeat in a row as Bradford City came from behind to claim the three points at the University of Bradford Stadium. 

For Gills boss Mark Bonner, the honeymoon period appears to be over as the manger saw his side lose their lead as they slipped to sixth place in the table, 

After the home side had an early “goal” ruled out, a much-changed Gillingham side – with the manager making five changes following the previous weeks home defeat to Accrington – then got into its stride and George Lapslie forced home keeper Sam Walker into a fine save with a curling effort before the Gills got the start that the manager and travelling supporters would have hoped for. Lapslie and Tim Dieng combined really well down the right, with the Frenchman’s teasing cross fining Jayden Clarke who fired home in off the post with just eleven minutes gone. 

Gillingham almost made it two on twenty minutes – Ethan Coleman combined with Lapslie and Jayden Clarke, and as Lapslie’s ball was looking for Oli Hawkins but a defender got there first and diverted the ball onto a post. Moments later the Gills arguably went even closer – Coleman and Jayden Clarke again combined well for Romeao Hutton and as the full-back arrowed the ball back into the direction of the “creators”, sadly neither Coleman or Clarke was able to convert the chance. 

And were not the Gills made to pay as the home side turned the game on its head in the last eight minutes of the half. Neill Byrne was on hand to bundle home Jamie Walker’s corner on thirty-eight minutes and in stoppage time with the last kick of the half, following a free-kick that really wasn’t dealt with by the Gills defence after returning keeper Jake Turner didn’t get the punch to the original delivery he would have wanted, Jack Shepherd gloriously drove the Bantams in front. 

Sadly, for the Gills, it was a lead that they were not to relinquish! 

League Two’s top-scorer Andy Cook was brilliantly denied by Turner early in the second half. Conor Masterson – making his first start since opening day – did really well to deny Kavanagh as the Bradford man looked set to make it three-one. Turner then saved well with his feet to keep out Cheick Diabate before Kavanagh fired a drive inches past the post of a flying Turner. 

The Gills huffed and puffed but did not create a chance that tested Walker as the home side secured the points leaving the near four hundred travelling Gills a long pointless return home. 

The Priestfield faithful will be looking for an end to the losing streak on Tuesday when Newport County, who themselves have lost their last three games, visit Kent for a 7.45 kick off. 

BRADFORD CITY – Sam Walker, Byrne, Diabate, Shepherd, Halliday, Oduor (Evans), Smallwood, Jamie Walker (Pointon), Wright (Richards), Kavanagh (Smith), Cook (Oliver) 

Subs – Doyle, Huntington 

GILLINGHAM – Turner, Hutton, Ehmer, Masterson, Max Clark, Coleman (Jonny Williams), Dieng (Euan Williams), Jayden Clarke (Nolan), Lapslie, Gbode (Wakeling), Hawkins (Wyllie) 

Subs – Ashby-Hammond, Ogie 

REFEREE – Mr. Joyce 

Image courtesy of Gillingham FC